Game development is a vibrant and growing field, even right here on our shores. It’s a matter of pride for us to celebrate local talent. So perhaps give a chance to some of these Malaysian-made mobile games to grace your apps list. After all, we should support our fellow countrymen (and women!).

1) Tappymon – Hatch by Mediasoft Entertainment

Image Credit: pocketgamer.com

Since I was young, the dream has always been to be a Pokémon master. However, walking around for Pokémon GO isn’t really my thing. An alternative? Tappymon, filled with the mechanics I loved from the other game, on my mobile.

Be the best trainer you can be and form a team of your own powerful Tappymons, breed to uncover all their hidden powers and very importantly, battle evil monsters that savage the land.

This game will definitely appeal to the inner collector with their adorable graphics and vibrant colours. Compulsive hoarders, collect ‘em all here.

2) Keep Fishin by WeRakuGames

Image Credit: lowyat.net

Meet Sniffles the Cat, and I’m sure you know the stereotype of how all cats love fish. Sniffles is no different, but he’s a bit more proactive about it. Control his little boat as he embarks on a journey for all the fish he can eat (how does he fit that into his tiny frame?)

It’s a simple arcade game with controls where you can run, jump and slide your way into capturing the most amount of fish against your other competition.

Be careful though! There are also some dangerous sea creatures that you will need to swipe at.

3) Alien Path by Appxplore Sdn Bhd

What can be more fun than aliens? Nothing, that’s what we say. Your enemy? Robots. Those dastardly droids are out to make an end to all living civilisation.

Even aliens don’t like knowing that they’re alone, so Appxplore’s Alien Path allows you to call on your ancestors for aid during missions.

Eliminate your enemies by navigating the aliens along the path to destroy the invading robots. Your brain’s going to receive a good stimulation because every move counts. Plan and strategise your way to victory, and collect Ancestor cards so you can get some help when you need it.

5) Tiny Guardians by Kurechii

Image Credit: Kurechii

Tiny Guardians is a tower defense game without towers. Instead you place characters in strategic positions before the endless hoards descend upon you.

Follow Lunalie on her journey through the various lands in the game and summon up to twelve unique classes of guardians to help her survive her quest. It’s simple to learn, but that is the most dangerous thing about it, because you’ll get caught in the story and the game too easily.

Personally, I had to uninstall the game from my phone because it was eating up too much of my time. You’ve been warned.

6) Doctor Life by Wigu Games Studio

For those of you who love micromanaging and have always dreamt of being a doctor, try out Doctor Life.

Basically you’re a doctor tasked with running your own surgery hospital; how you go about it and how well you do is up to you.

However, all this is done on a time-limited basis, which only gives you around maybe fifteen or so seconds in order to diagnose the patient appropriately. Herein lies the fun (and the tension), and part of the satisfaction is being able to correctly assess the patient and score points for doing so.

8) ROTO – Bouncy Circular Puzzle by WerakuGames

Image Credit: ROTO – Bouncy Circular Puzzle

Don’t be fooled by the simplistic design the game has. It may seem like another typical puzzle with simple controls and goals where you control one small ball to collect stars and reach the flag, all while avoiding obstacles along the way.

However, to play it well, it’s all about angling and timing to get it right. There are also special balls including Bouncing Balls, Hidden Balls, Chainsaw Balls, and Portals which alter the position of the small ball.

9) Roll Spike Sepak Takraw by Mediasoft Entertainment

Image Credit: iTunes Store

Roll Spike is the World’s First Ever Sepak Takraw Mobile Game. The game makes it easy for anyone to experience the spirit of Sepak Takraw through an intuitive touch D-Pad and button control system. Completely optimised for mobile, Roll Spike lets you perform the basic tricks of kicks, passes, headers, blocks and of course special roll spike attacks.

Including some of the top virtual teams in Sepak Takraw, Roll Spike allows you to play and unlock teams, stadiums and tricks from Korea, Malaysia, Thailand Indonesia and the Philippines and many more.

10) Crab War by Appxplore Sdn Bhd

It’s common to use animals as characters in games (I mean, just look at this list). But we’re going to make a bet that you haven’t played any games with crabs as the main characters.

Well, that’s going to change.

Crab War is an arcade style game where players are in control of a radioactive crab army with mutated powers to battle evil reptiles that had forced them underground. Players are given free range of how to evolve their army according to their wishes with over 80 crab designs to choose from and 30 unique crabs that learn new abilities with every level.

The different waves from each level test not only players’ reactions to the attacks but forces them to strategise properly as the gold earned after each level is needed to upgrade and evolve the crabs. So make sure you plan before you spend!

11) Dragon Siege by Takeout Arcade

Screenshot of the gameplay.

Dragon Siege is a straightforward action defense game, where you fend off waves of enemies bent on stealing your gold as a dragon.

Unlike most tower defense games, Dragon Siege puts you in the thick of the action so you’ll need to Slash and Smash oncoming enemies with gesture based controls. Make sure you’re holding your phone properly.

There’s the option to upgrade powerful abilities and spells to do more devastating damage.

12. Mobfish Hunter by Appxplore Sdn Bhd

Image Credit: Appxplore

Mobfish Hunter takes place in the year 2020 where pollution has caused the world’s fish species to mutate into vicious monsters known as Mobfish. You play as a brave hunter who has to combat the Mobfish and save the world.

From graphics to the animations to the maps, you cannot help but admire how much work and dedication the team has put in to craft the world. The Mobfish variants in particular are out of this world.

Gameplay is simple yet rewarding, and the upgrades are not merely aesthetic—you’ll look forward to each power up or weapon upgrade when you’re playing. One thing I liked the most was you’re able to progress easily without having to rely on in-app purchases, which is usually the bane of free to play apps.

If you’re an aspiring game developer or you just want to find out more, MDEC is hosting LEVEL UP KL 2016, one of Southeast Asia’s premier gaming conferences, in Kuala Lumpur this coming 5th to 9th November.

The event will bring together prominent international and local players in the gaming industry to interact, educate and share knowledge on a wide range of subjects, from content development to fundraising, and business development and marketing.

The convention isn’t just for game developers, even regular gamers can benefit from this 5-day convention. Participants can expect to listen to over 40 key industry players from various studios in just one convention where they will be sharing their valuable insights and experiences within the gaming scene.

Other activities include the SEA Game Jam, which is a 36-hour, non-stop display of the raw art of game-making; GameFounders Asia Demo Day which highlights the most promising graduates from its 3-month accelerator program; and the International Mobile Gaming Awards SEA 2016 happening at Level Up KL 2016.

To buy tickets and for more information regarding the convention, click here.

Like the games we mentioned on the list or do you know of other Malaysian game developers that we should highlight? Let us know in the comments!